Archive for the ‘Cars’ Category

In celebration of the 46th Annual NAACP Image Awards, long time supporter Chevrolet hosted an exclusive media brunch honoring NAACP President’s Award winner – Spike Lee. During the intimate luncheon hosted by Jocelyn Allen and the General Motors Diversity team, media learned about the unique creative connection between Spike Lee and General Motors (the Academy Award-nominated director also serves as CEO of Spike DDB, Chevrolet’s ad agency of record).

Held at the Langham Huntington Resort Spike Lee; Jocelyn Allen, the director for Regional, Grassroots and Diversity Communications and director for Diversity Marketing and Communications Center of Excellence for General Motors; Martin J. Davis, design manager of Exterior Lighting, North American Exterior Design for General Motors; Vivian Pickard, president of the General Motors Foundation and director of Corporate Relations hosted the candid conversation where Lee shared his thoughts on his ad agency’s partnership with both Chevy and Cadillac as well as the special honor recieving accolades from the NAACP.

Lee discussed the importance of highlighting diversity and the accomplishments of African-Americans citing his directorial debut of the “I Throw Like A Girl” documentary / :60 second Chevrolet commercial featuring 13-year old Little League phenomenon Mo’ne Davis. Lee also addressed his start in the ad industry citing NBA legend Michael Jordan’s Nike commercials as his first steps into the world of ad creation.

In addition to creative conversation, media guests were treated to an exclusive walk around tour of the latest Chevrolet vehicles, including the haute candy apple red 2015 Chevy Corvette Z06 and all-new 2015 Chevy Tahoe.

From highlighting the illumination of Chevrolet’s latest designs to African-American leaders paving the way honored at the 46th Annual NAACP Image Awards – the Chevrolet / NAACP media luncheon shined a light on leadership, creativity and the advancement of industry trailblazers that will inspire the next generation of game-changers for years to come.

The 2015 Volvo V60 Cross Country is one stylish wagon for active users of all ages!

What happens when you work and play with your mom on the road? This week’s Volvo cross country experience in California, that’s what! During an amazing cross country experience spanning California roads from Napa Valley to the mountains of Lake Tahoe – my mom and I had the chance to experience the 2015 Volvo V60 Cross Country in its natural active environment. Check out our first impressions halfway through our road tripping experience with Volvo below…

Global automakers brought their A-game to the 2015 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). Journalists were treated to elaborate vehicle unveilings surrounded by dozens of floor-to-ceiling digital walls with music that raised the roof at the transformed Cobo Center. There were trucks, super cars, hybrids, plug-ins and driverless reveals that captured the attention of the connected media on digital cameras, personal mobile devices, Google glasses, tablets, GoPros, photo cards and more! There was even a car “built” at the show via 3-D printing. Discover my top five hottest cars found at the Detroit Auto Show below!

Maserati Alfieri 2+2 Concept

The concept made its debut last November at the Los Angeles Motor Show, and looks absolutely stunning! It’s still a couple years away from actually going on the market, but we’re more than willing to wait for the gorgeous Maserati Alfieri concept to arrive.

Porsche 911 Targa 4 GTS

Looking for a slightly more souped up version of the previous Porsche 911 Targa, with performance upgrades across the board and a 430-horsepower 3.8-Liter flat-six engine. It’s here! The Porsche 911 Targa, with its robotic retractable roof, made a fresh appearance at NAIAS in the form of the Targa 4 GTS and Porsche fans will be ecstatic to see this beauty in person!

Mercedes-Benz F015 Luxury in Motion

The belle of the ball - F015 Luxury in Motion is a car that is as futuristic as they come, with a sloping, rounded body it’s even more futuristic on the inside. Want seats that can swivel to face the back seats, interior space and luxury sets the trends that we’re going to see a whole lot more of in the next few years.

Alfa Romeo 4C Spider

If you love a good convertible with speed to match, then you’ll love the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider. An update to the 4C, the Spider is a 237-horsepower convertible with your choice of tops to take off—a retractable soft top and a carbon fiber top that you’ll either need to ride with or leave at home.

What’s the next huge leap in technology for automakers ? Connectivity, Gesture-Control and Car sharing! Auto insiders and journalists got a sneak peek at what’s to come with a previewing cars of the future today at CES 2015. Just one small preview has opened the floodgates of what we could possibly expect next week at the North American International Auto show and more major announcements later this year. But for now, let’s take a look at which major brands are making blazing their way through advancements and beyond below:

BMWS OF THE FUTURE WILL HAVE SAMSUNG TABLETS AND GESTURE CONTROL

BMW showed off a couple near-future technologies that’ll be available on cars in the next few years. The first doesn’t really sound futuristic at all — it’s just a generic Samsung tablet, but the magic is in how tightly BMW’s managed to integrate it with the car’s systems. The “Touch Command” system includes the small Android tablet and a dock in the rear seat, allowing rear passengers to change climate settings, switch radio stations, adjust their seats, and more — in other words, it’s basically a portable iDrive controller for when you’re getting chauffeured around. [Read More.]

HYUNDAI WILL LET YOU START YOUR CAR WITH AN ANDROID WEAR WATCH

The app gives drivers the ability to access remote vehicle operations right from their wrists, such as starting and stopping the engine, locking and unlocking the doors, and activating safety features like flashing the headlights or honking the horn. Users will be able to locate their car or call roadside assistance from the app as well. [Read More.]

The F 015 Luxury in Motion — yes, “Luxury in Motion” is part of the car’s name — is basically a sleek pod with a huge passenger compartment, a fortuitous side effect of an imagined future where we spend most of our times chilling out in cars while they drive us around all by themselves. Mercedes actually calls the cabin “lounge-like,” thanks to four rotating seats that can face each other. [Read More.]

Discover more automotive previews and news you can use at DivasDriveInHeels.com! Looking for more breaking news and gadgets, gizmos and more found at CES 2015? Visit DivasandDorks.com all weekend long and even connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and more today! You don’t want to miss the action from the largest tech trade show in the world – it’s CES 2015!

One thing that’s sure to be a big hit at this year’s CES 2015 and upcoming North American International Auto Show is the innovative upswing in connected cars. Automakers and brands did not hesitate to share the latest innovation and features that next generation vehicles will have available sooner than later. After introducing the new iteration of its Smart car platform, Sync 3, last month, Ford mainly looked at the big picture today, discussing the ways cars would collect data in future to adapt to road conditions, help find parking and customize insurance for drivers.

BMW showed off new touchscreen and gesture controls for its iDrive interface, while Pioneer joined the fray with the next generation of its NEX series in-dash multimedia receivers, featuring Android Auto integration. Parrot also promised Android Auto and Apple CarPlay in any car with its new RNB 6.

After driving its autonomous car from San Francisco to CES, Audi used its presser to herald the future of driverless cars (even calling one on stage with a smartwatch) before moving on to the new Q7 featuring Android Auto and an Audi Tablet to control interior features.

Mercedes Benz unveiled the beautifully futuristic F015 Luxury in Motion “car of the future”. The spacious silver bullet of a body was remarkably open inside, with rotating chairs for passengers that made it more akin to a futuristic lounge room than a car. The futuristic driving experience is here and now and will be rolling off assembly lines before we know it.

Looking for more breaking news and gadgets, gizmos and more found at CES 2015? Visit DivasandDorks.com all week long and even connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and more today! You don’t want to miss the action from the largest tech trade show in the world – it’s CES 2015!

Last week, I got the chance to hang out heavy with the Dodge Brothers and 2015 vehicles in celebration of 100 years of automotive brand. Throughout my driving experience, which took place in Washington, DC and Dallas, Texas – I had the chance to put the pedal to the metal in a high speed chance in the 2015 Dodge Charger Pursuit(check out the video), drive the fastest sedan in the world the 2015 Dodge Charger Hellcat and more!

In Dallas, TX this diva rocked out “cowboy style” to Mötley Crüe with the guys at Gas Monkey Garage(Check out the video)! The Dodge Rocks Gas Monkey Live exclusive event was not only a concert, but it also featured a huge car show filled with classic and tricked out Chargers, Challengers, Vipers and more! Check out the gallery of all my driving fun below and for a full recap of my drive in Dallas and DC visit DivasDriveInHeels.com.

In celebration of all things “Throwback Thursday” or “Flashback Friday” related, I thought about some of my favorite classic cars discovered down through the years. No matter what kind of cars you prefer, foreign vs domestic, hard tops or convertibles – we can all agree that nothing can quite compare to the classic automobile of yesteryears. From the buxom, confident frame to the pomp and circumstance flair fit for dignitaries and celebrities, every year I get reminded about my love for the great classic car (and this year is no different.) In years past, I’ve been front and center at the annual Woodard Dream Cruise in Detroit, MI – however, this year, I missed out due to conflicting travels and found myself face to face in what could be considered the elusive 1939 Diamler Eighteen.

So it’s only fair that the Diamler Eighteen kicks off the list of my favorite classic cars on my “I Want To Drive Before I Die” wish list below.

1939 Diamler Eighteen

Diamler Eighteen. This regal beauty leaves a lasting impression that only something British made could. Spotted in Saratoga Springs at the Saratoga Raceway (on race day, hence the fascinator derby hat) – this beautifully made 4-door tourer caught my eye and since then has held my heart as one of my favorite classic cars created.

Mercedes-Benz 540K

Mercedes Benz 540K. If you’re looking for a curvaceous classic car, then look no further than the Mercedes Benz 540K. This classic coupe features sleeker and curvier bodywork, along with a larger, more powerful straight-8 engine. What I would give to ride in this ultra-luxe classic in it’s hay day.

Austin-Healey 3000

Austin-Healey 3000. Clearly I have a trend of being in love with historic roadsters. The Austin-Healey 3000 is a touch larger and heavier than other British roadsters of its day. By today’s standard, though, it’s still a compact featherweight – which means it’s light on the road and a speedster after my own heart.

For more classic cars to fill your hearts desire, check out my top five favorites in its entirety on DivasDriveinHeels.com.

So it’s Fall and you’re already stressing out about getting your car winterized (wasn’t it just summer yesterday?) Automobiles come with responsibilities like oil changes, headaches like dead batteries, and mild anxiety about getting scratches and smudges your new (expensive) toy. Whether you’re a professional driver, auto aficionado, worried parent, or 16 year-old who’s yet to be in a bind, these five gadgets will help put those fears to rest.

You can’t mention then 20th Anniversary ESSENCE Festival without mentioning Ford Motor Company. The automaker took over New Orleans throughout the entire ESSENCE Fest weekend!

As the automotive-exclusive sponsor for the sixth-consecutive year, Ford activated on-site at the Earnest N. Memorial Convention Center providing fun giveaways including the chance to win the keys to the all-new 2015 Ford Mustang in addition to continuing its support of breast cancer awareness within the community.

As a premiere sponsor of the weekend, Ford partnered with SiriusXM Satellite radio for a live broadcast with celebrities all weekend long. Ford also took R&B Songstress Sevyn Streeter on a road to ESSENCE Fest journey celebrating her birthday weekend with dinner and a live streamed power-packed performance from the ESSENCE Festival Ford Superlounge.

Ford celebrates ESSENCE Festival with Sevyn Streeter and dinner in New Orleans.

If that wasn’t enough, Ford’s philanthropic arm was in full swing donating $20,000 to ESSENCE Communications for local community use, a million-dollar donation to the African American Smithsonian Museum in Washington DC and a 2015 Ford Mustang giveaway to an ESSENCE Fest attendee.

A few weeks ago, I received an amazing invitation for an experience of a lifetime compliments of Lincoln Motor Company. Excited for a weekend introduction to the all new Lincoln MKC, I embarked on a cross-country journey to Santa Barbara, California with a very special invited guest… my mother.

Mom and I finally arrived to the beautiful Belmond El Encanto hotel and spa in Santa Barbara, California.

Sure I’ve gone on family vacations with my mother, siblings, nieces and nephews – but never have I journeyed on a first-class travel experience like this with my mother before. A luxurious retreat at the Belmond El Encanto, a technologically advanced drive up the coast in the new Lincoln MKC coupled with moments of relaxing and reflecting in lavender fields and more filled our days of bonding and exploring while visiting California together for the first time.

Divas Drive In Heels: Mom and me ready for our west coast road trip in the new Lincoln MKC.

First stop in beautiful Santa Barbara, our first west coast road trip to the beautifulClairmont Lavender Farm in Los Olivos, CA. During our experience at the Clairmont Lavender Farm, my mom and I walked the fragrant lavender fields, sipped on lavender lemonade and basked in the beauty of the Lincoln MKC with interior designer, Dillon Blanski .

When two divas meet a Lincoln designer, who knows what’ll happen next.

Next stop, a sweet date with mom at Birkholm’s Bakery & Cafe in Solvang, CA. Known for a striking resemblance to small towns found in Denmark, this Danish bakery found in the middle of the tourist attraction of Solvang offered mom and I a great afternoon of delicious treats in a unique town that we’ll never forget.

Divas On Destinations: Welcome to the Denmark of America, Solvang, California.

Final stop of the Lincoln MKC experience, Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club in Santa Barbara, CA. Established in 1911, the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club is the third oldest polo facility in the United States and is world renowned for its four lush polo fields and international outdoor competition.

Discover performance and horse-power on and off the field at Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club

Want to see more of our mother/daughter Santa Barbara adventure? Discover more from behind the wheel of our unique Lincoln MKC experience on the auto channel, DivasDriveInHeels.com and check out the stories behind our entire travel adventure on DivasOnDestinations.com. Thanks Lincoln Motor Company for a life changing experience that this mother-daughter duo will never forget.